During his visit this week to Morocco, the UNWTO SG confirmed that the Kingdom had all the health guarantees to best accommodate the 24th AG of the international organization. In a series of flattering tweets, Zurab Pololikashvili praised Marrakech where this event will be held in the 4th quarter of 2021. According to several sectoral sources, whatever happens between now and then, the Moroccan destination will benefit from an unexpected boost of global publicity to restart its tourism sector.
During his 3-day tour, the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization met with the Chief Executive, the Ministers of Tourism and Foreign Affairs as well as all other actors from the public and private sectors to prepare by next October for the holding, in Marrakech, of the 24th session of the UNWTO General Assembly, but also to discuss the post-Covid recovery of the sector in Morocco.
The SG of UNWTO, Morocco’s true VRP
Solicited by Medias24, a sectoral source told us that the Secretary General’s statements constituted a very positive message for Morocco which will not fail to bring back foreigners.
Indeed, Zurab Pololikashvili declared on Twitter that Morocco was not only ready in terms of health to welcome tourists, but also to organize the 24th UNWTO AG which should constitute a first step to revive the Moroccan tourism sector.
“Moreover, while emphasizing that the Moroccan vaccination strategy opened a glimmer of hope for a rapid recovery, he also praised the involvement of actors from the Marrakech region responsible for organizing the event which will be held at the same location as COP22.
Only uncertainty, a face-to-face or semi-virtual format
“If the current improvement in the epidemiological situation in Morocco continues on the same trend, this first Moroccan edition will take place in a 100% face-to-face format which will make it possible to welcome between 500 and 800 participants from all over the world.
“Otherwise, unlikely due to the future post-vaccination collective immunity hoped for in summer, the number of guests will certainly be reduced with greater virtual participation.
The smooth running of the AGM will lead to other important events
“Whatever the attendance rate, its already confirmed maintenance will make it possible to obtain tremendous global media coverage for Morocco.
« Its confirmation will also lead to the holding of other, more important events, planned for October, such as the IMF and World Bank AGMs which usually attract thousands of guests.
“In addition, if this visit by the SG made it possible to send a clear message of revival of the sector, it at the same time showed Morocco’s logistical capacity to organize events within the framework of the new world health order imposed by this pandemic
“Indeed, during his tour of several places in Marrakech (AG site, wilaya, streets where wearing a mask is obligatory, health checks in hotels including that of the SG, at the YSL and Dar El Bacha museums, etc.), Pololikashvili was able to see first-hand that the health measures (distancing, etc.) and the curfew were strictly respected by the population.
Tweets that correspond to a global communications campaign
“In the end, even if the AGM will only take place in eight months, the numerous tweets from the SG which constitute a real gold mine for Morocco in terms of a communication campaign, will not fail to reassure foreign visitors hesitant to stay there”, concludes our interlocutor, for whom this signal will coincide with the end of the vaccination campaign and with the mobilization of all official and private actors (ministers, wali, ONMT, CRT, CNT, SMIT, hoteliers….).
An optimism shared by Hamid Bentahar, president of the CRT of the Marrakech-Safi region, visibly delighted with this visit which had the merit of restoring visibility to his city and preparing for a real international recovery.
“The final number of participants does not matter because we are only just beginning to emerge from the worst global crisis the tourism industry has ever experienced.
source: medias24.com
